In the Season 3 finale of The Vampire Diaries, Elena (Nina Dobrev) chose her Salvatore. She told Damon (Ian Somerhalder) that her heart belonged to Stefan (Paul Wesley), and in Season 4 the elder brother isn’t handling it well. “Elena has chosen Stefan and he’s fighting that desire to rip everyone’s throat out,” Ian told The Star. “Recently, he’s rejected by every woman he’s met. . . . The guy’s supposed to be a stud, man! Where’s the action for Damon Salvatore?”That romantic failing isn’t the only thing that’s deflated Damon’s ego. “When Damon showed up, he was the baddest dude around,” says Ian. “Then other characters showed up way more powerful than Damon and it’s been humbling for him.”

But Ian’s said previously that Damon shouldn’t pine for Elena, while Julie Plec promised the return of badass Damon. And the snark? That’s not going anywhere: “And now he’s expressing depth of character using humour like medicine to cover up his pain, as he’s still dealing with a lot of demons. So he’s using his charm and wit as a band-aid,” Ian explains.